Then, a bite of black eyed peas today (only a bite – because they taste like dirt). And with all of that… Hello 2014.

So as a natural next step, like most of you perhaps, I’ve spent some time reflecting on “Resolutions.” Some of you may have started yours today on this January 1. Over-acheivers. But most of you, if you’re honest, are going to start tomorrow. Aaaaand, in perfect symmetry, as I type that, I notice the clock reads 12:01… am.

It is tomorrow. Sigh.

Resolutions have always kind of been a big deal to me. I have had a personality bent toward planning, goals… my type can be the big “A.” I’ve always loved planning and setting goals and writing out lists of all the things I was resolving to do to be better, to do more, to change my life in a positive way. I’m so bad I’ve had plans to make plans, and then my plans had little sub-plans in them – nicely indented and bulleted.

Double Sigh.

With that as a background, it was fascinating to me when the Lord showed me recently, as this idea of making Resolutions around the turn of a calendar page returned – just how much I have changed in this area.

I really couldn’t give a rip about planning anymore. Or making Resolutions. So this year, my New Year’s Resolution is to not have any New Year’s Resolutions.

Sure, there is plenty of wisdom in the Bible about planning – mostly in Psalms and Proverbs:

“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.”

~ Psalm 20:4

“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

~ Proverbs 3:6

“The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.”

~Proverbs 12:5

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

~Proverbs 15:22

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

~ Proverbs 16:3

“Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance.”

~ Proverbs 20:18

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

~ Proverbs 21:5

I think all of these are awesome, and look especially good on a desktop calendar or a motivational poster in the office. But for me, where I am right now, these passages of wisdom are somewhere below Wisdom, as a Person, Jesus Christ. And Jesus told us we are not promised tomorrow – so do not worry about it. He invited us instead to abide in Him daily – trusting that He will meet all of our needs. He has invited us to carry a cross, to deny ourselves, to submit, and to die – and in so choosing that crucifixion – receive His Life through us instead.

It is in light of this, that planning seems distant to me all of the sudden. Further, in light of making Resolutions, which for most of us generally look like imposing our self-will to do something more, or better or different – seems foolish.

Why do most people betray their best intentioned New Year’s Resolutions before we even get to February? Is it because of lack of discipline or desire or will? Maybe. But I think more and more it is because we remain focused on us, and I, and our own ability to enact or make change – and the flesh is weak.

It’s a recipe for failure.

Instead of beating my head against the wall in self-guilt over unfulfilled promises to myself, I want to instead live free of that burden, and drink from the Well that I can testify has truly brought the only real change, transformation, in my life – always in a positive way – Jesus.

Jesus is always changing things in us. Certainly in me. For most of my life I was too busy making lists of things I wanted to change to notice what He wanted to change. Sometimes, my list included things I assumed would make Him happy (read my Bible more, pray more, etc.), but I was still looking at my list, and myself – instead of looking at Him.

Real change, the change you want, will only come by way of submission, to Him who changes you.

He is the Resolution. He is the List. And He cannot just be number-listed on paper in January – He lives inside and continually whispers.

Resolution is derived from “Resolve” which means “to determine a course of action,” “to make up one’s mind,” or to “have firmness in purpose or intent.” Your mileage may vary – but it seems to me that Jesus is my Course, my Direction, and the “action” He beckons for is a response to follow. To “make up my mind” is really to renew my mind in His. And the firmness I should have in purpose and intent is in joining Him in His Eternal Purpose and Ultimate Intention.

The world’s definition of resolve places power in the will. The will is a dangerous place to live out of in the eternal. It is exactly the will of the flesh that we are to crucify daily to follow Jesus. His Will is what I’m after. His Will is the safest place I can be – though it will undoubtedly involve much risk in the natural.

That is what submitting looks like. That is what dying is, so that Another can Live. That is a True Resolution. That I might become less, so that He becomes greater. That I might carry my cross and follow Him into Glory. That I might be crucified so that He might Live.

After all, if I’m honest, I already have a “List.” I don’t need to make another one, or tidy up last year’s. I know several things Jesus has already invited me to do – that I have not fully responded to. Shouldn’t I “resolve” to start there? To say “yes” and trust that on the other side of obedience is the next set of invitations, the next “List?”

So for this day, only this day, one day at a time – I resolve to have no Resolution, other than dying – to my plans, my goals, myself – so that His Plan, His Goal, and Himself may Live through me.